Should Christians Practice Tithing (Modified Talk)

One appealing quality of Jehovah is his generosity, and generosity is a quality that God loves in his worshipers. 2 Corinthians 9:7 exclaims that God loves a cheerful giver, but some church members may feel compelled to give beyond their means. Some churches teach that God requires a set amount of money for contributions: this practice is known as tithing, which means giving 10 percent of one's money as a contribution or offering. Does God require a set amount for a contribution? Exactly how much should we donate?

When Jehovah dealt with the nation of Israel, he clearly instructed them about how much they should give to sustain the tabernacle and later, the temple. According to Leviticus 27:30, "every tenth part of the land" belonged to Jehovah. Since Israel was an agricultural nation, much of their tithing consisted of produce from the land. In return, Jehovah promised he would make the nation ‘overflow with prosperity.’​ See Malachi 3:10.

In other instances, God's servants could give little or plenty, depending on their circumstances. For example, when King David planned to build a temple for Jehovah, his subjects donated “gold worth five thousand talents.” That amount today would be equivalent to almost 5 billion dollars. On the other hand, in Luke 21:1-4, Jesus told about a widow, who contributed 2 coins of little value: her donation was only 1/64 of a day's wages. Yet Jesus praised this woman's generosity.

What about Christians? Are we required to give a set amount today for contributions? While giving is a great source of joy for Christians, since we're not under the Mosaic Law, God's people are no longer obligated to tithe or give 10 percent contributions. If we turn to 2 Corinthians 9:7, we'll see why a set amount is no longer required.

[After reading verse]

Paul pointed out that a Christian should give what he's resolved in his heart. Why? Because God loves a cheerful giver. This is why Jehovah's Witnesses offer voluntary contributions to support the worldwide preaching work. While some Witnesses might get help defraying their expenses or to assist with their ministry, most of us work to supply our needs in order to avoid becoming a burden to others. By doing these things, we imitate Jehovah, our generous heavenly Father (Acts 20:35; Ephesians 5:1; James 1:17).